Messi accused of 'humiliating' the people of Egypt

- Lionel Messi had donated boots for charity during Egyptian television interview, Messi was accused by a member of Egyptian parliament and a football official

- Messi is yet to comment on the controversy that has brewed after the interview

Barcelona star Lionel Messi, is at the center of a media storm in Egypt, after a member of parliament and a football official reacted furiously to the Argentine star donating a pair of his boots to a charity auction.

Messi had appeared in a local Egyptian television station were he was interviewed, the Barcelona star then promised to have the boots he wore in Argentina's win over Chile on Friday, March 25, for auction.

The Egyptian MP Said Hasasin labelled the gesture from Messi as humiliating to the people of Egypt.

The politician said that it would have been understandable if Messi had donated his Barcelona shirt.

The MP said Egyptians will never accept that kind of humiliation and that the country has never been humiliated like that in its history.

Azmy Megahed, a spokesman for Egypt’ football federation said if Messi intended to humiliate the people of Egypt he should put the shoes on his head and donate it to his country as it is full of poverty.

The Barcelona star and ballon d'or winner is yet to comment on the controversy but has been defended by former Egyptian footballer Mido who said it was all a misunderstanding.

Lionel Messi’s return to national team duty sparked Argentina to a 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago on Friday, March 25, breathing new life into their South American qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

Messi, who had missed the first four games last year with a knee injury, laid on the 24th-minute winner for defender Gabriel Mercado after Angel Di Maria had cancelled out Felipe Gutierrez’s opener for Chile.